Paris Peace Conf. 180.03401/73
CF–73
Notes of a Meeting Held at President Wilson’s House in the Place des
Etats-Unis on Monday, June 16, at 5:45 p.m.
Paris, June 16, 1919, 5:45 p.m.
- Present
- United States of America
- British Empire
- The Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd George, M. P.
- France
- Italy
- Japan
| Lt. Col. Sir Maurice Hankey, K. C. B. |
} |
Secretaries. |
| M. di Martino |
| Professor P. J. Mantoux—Interpreter. |
1. The initials of the representatives of the Principal Allied and
Associated Powers were given to the following documents;—connected with
the Naval, Military and Air Clauses:— Military, Naval
and Air Clauses: Commissions of Control and General Clauses
- (a)
- Inter-Allied Commissions of Control.
- (b)
- General Clauses.
Sir Maurice Hankey was instructed to communicate these to the
Secretary-General for the information of the Drafting Committee.
2. The Political Clauses for the Austrian Treaty as submitted by the
Committee of Foreign Ministers or their representatives (Appendix
I) were approved and initialled by the representatives of the Council of
the Principal Allied and Associated Powers. The remainder of the
Political Clauses dealing with Economic and Financial matters which had
been approved on Friday, June 6th, (C. F. 50, Min. 1.,)1 were also initialled. Austrian Treaty: Political Clauses
Sir Maurice Hankey was instructed to communicate both the above to the
Secretary-General for the information of the Drafting Committee.
3. Sir Maurice Hankey was instructed to notify the Secretary-General that
the various additions to complete the Treaty of Peace with Austria,
which had been approved during the day, namely, the Military Clauses and
Political Clauses, should be forwarded to the Austrian Delegation as
soon as the Drafting Committee had put them into final shape. Additions to the Treaty of Peace With
Austria
[Page 513]
4. Baron Sonnino said that at Constantinople
there was a Venetian Palace which Italy would like to acquire as part of
her share of reparation. The Venetian coat-of-arms was on the Palace at
Palace and it had been used as the Austrian Embassy in Constantinople.
Italy had not been able to claim it under the addition to the financial
clauses relating to palaces in transferred territory. The Palace had
been occupied by the Italians since the Armistice when the Austrians had
gone out of it. They only asked for it as a part of their share of
reparation, according to its value. To grant this would hurt no-one and
would give great historical satisfaction from a Venetian point of view.
The Venetian Palace at Constantinople
President Wilson said it was introducing a new
principle to transfer buildings in foreign territory in this way.
Baron Sonnino read Article 260 of the Treaty of
Peace with Germany to show that the principle was not a new one. He
proposed the following draft:—
“Le ‘Palais de Venise’ à Constantinople, les autres immeubles
affeetés à l’usage de l’Ambassade, du Consulat, des écoles et de
l’hôpital austro-hongrois dans la même ville et leurs annexes,
ainsi que l’église et le couvent de Sainte-Marie en Draperia,
seront cédés à l’Italie en compte des réparations.”
Mr. Lloyd George said that this draft would
enable the British Government to confiscate the German Embassy in
London. Neither the British nor the American, nor the French Government
proposed to confiscate the German Embassy in their capital. It was a
great pity this question had not been examined earlier as he had no-one
to advise him in regard to it.
(After some discussion it was agreed that the proposal of the Italian
Delegation should be referred to the Reparations Commission.)
5. M. Clemenceau said he had received a reply
from the Hungarian Government to the proposals for an armistice. This
was read (Appendix II).
(After some discussion it was agreed that the question should be referred
to General Bliss to advise as to the proposal of the Hungarian
Government that the Military Commanders of the Hungarian Army, on the
one hand, and of the Czecho-Slovak and Roumanian Armies, on the other,
should be brought together to confer as to the best means of withdrawing
behind the line proposed. The Military Situation in
Hungary
General Bliss should be authorised to confer with the Czecho-Slovak and
Roumanian delegates in Paris on the subject.
[Page 514]
President Wilson asked Sir Maurice Hankey to write to General Bliss on
his behalf.)
6. With reference to C.F.70, Minute 6,2
Baron Makino said he was now prepared to agree
to the draft declaration in regard to Religious Religious Missions:
Missions (C.F.70, Appendix 6).3
Baron Sonnino said he was also prepared to
agree. Religious Missions: Proposed Declaration to
the Vatican
(It was agreed that those governments who are in diplomatic relations
with the Vatican should communicate this declaration to the
representative of the Vatican in Paris.
President Wilson asked Sir Maurice Hankey to communicate this decision to
Mr. Lansing.)
7. With reference to C. F. 60, Minute 12,4
Mr. Lloyd George said that M. Venizelos was in
favour of the calling of attention to infractions of the articles
relating to the rights of Minorities being permissible only to States
Members of the Council of the League of Nations.
President Wilson said that M. Benes was of the
same view. Committee on Small States. References to
the League of Nations of Infractions of the Articles in Regard to
Minorities
M. Clemenceau said he had not asked the
question to M. Vesnitch.
Mr. Lloyd George said that M. Paderewski had
written him a long letter on the subject.
President Wilson suggested that a decision
should be taken in favour of action only by members of the Council of
the League of Nations.
(It was agreed that the right of drawing attention to infractions of the
Articles relating to the rights of Minorities should be limited to
States Members of the Council of the League of Nations.)
Villa Majestic,
Paris
, 16 June,
1919.
Appendix I to CF–73
M–269
Peace
Conference, Secretariat General,
Quai D’Orsay, Paris,
June 15,
1919.
My Dear Colleague: In accordance with the
decision taken by the Supreme Council on June 6th5 and communicated to me by your letter of the
same date, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the United States of
America, the British Empire, France and Italy, formed a Committee to
examine the first 11 clauses of the Draft Political Clauses for
insertion with the Treaty with Austria under the heading
“Italy”.
[Page 515]
This Committee, which held two meetings, was made up as follows:—
| The United States of America: |
Mr. Fred K. Neilson. |
| British Empire: |
Sir Eyre Crowe. |
| France: |
M. Pichon, represented at the second meeting by M.
Berthelot. |
| Italy: |
Mr. de Martino for the first meeting. |
| Mr. Crespi for the second. |
The Committee finished its work on June 14th by adopting:
- (1)
- Seven clauses (Articles 1 to 7) for insertion in the “European
Political Clauses” of the Treaty, under the title,
“Italy”.
- (2)
- A clause for insertion as Article 4 of clause VIII (sic) “general provisions” of Part III of
the Treaty.
I have the honour to transmit to you herewith the text of these
clauses, which were unanimously adopted.
The United States Delegation declared, in connection with Article VII
of the European Political Clauses, that it reserved the right to ask
the Supreme Council to put the provisions of this Article, relative
to enemy property, in harmony with the general provisions on the
said subject inserted in the Treaty, if the latter should be
modified.
Pray accept etc.
[Enclosure 1]
European Political Clauses*
Italy
Article 1
Austria renounces, so far as she is concerned, in favour of Italy,
all rights and title over the territories of the former
Austro-Hungarian Monarchy situated outside the frontiers of Austria
as laid down in Article 1 of Part II (Frontiers of Austria) and
recognised by the present Treaty as forming part of Italy.
Article 2
Austrian nationals born and having their right of domicile (pertinenza), in accordance with the local
administrative laws in the territories of the former
Austro-Hungarian Monarchy transferred to Italy, will acquire Italian
nationality ipso facto, and will lose their
Austrian nationality.
[Page 516]
The above-mentioned Austrian nationals, however, who have only
acquired domicile (pertinenza) in the said
territories after May 24th, 1915, or who have only acquired it in
consequence of their functions, will only be able to acquire Italian
nationality by special permission of the Italian State.
Article 3
Within two years from the coming into force of the present Treaty,
the Austrian nationals referred to in Article 2, Paragraph 1, if
over 18 years of age, will be entitled to opt for Austrian
nationality. Italians, being Austrian nationals, over 18 years of
age, and having their domicile in the territories of the former
Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, shall likewise be entitled to opt for
Italian nationality.
Persons who have exercised the right of option above provided for
must, within the ensuing 12 months, transfer their place of
residence to the State in favour of which they have opted.
They will be entitled to retain the immovable property which they own
in the territory of the State in which they had their domicile
before opting. They may carry with them their movable property of
every description. No export or import duties or taxes may be
imposed upon them in connection with the removal of such
property.
Article 4
Within the year which follows the coming into force of the present
Treaty, persons belonging to one of the following classes may claim
Italian nationality:—
- (1)
- Austrian nationals who have the right of domicile in the
aforesaid territories, but who were not born there;
- (2)
- Austrian nationals who previously had the right of
domicile in the said territories, or, whose fathers, or, if
their fathers are unknown, mothers, had the right of
domicile in that territory;
- (3)
- Austrian nationals who have served in the Italian Army
during the present war, and their descendants.
The claim to nationality of the said persons may be rejected by the
competent Italian authorities in individual cases.
Persons who have obtained Italian nationality by virtue of the
present Article must within 12 months transfer their place of
residence to Italy.
They will be entitled to retain the immovable property which they own
in the territories of the former Austro-Hungarian monarchy, where
they had their domicile before their change
of nationality.
They may carry with them their movable property of every description.
No export or import duties or taxes may be imposed upon them in
connection with the removal of such property. Married women and
children less than 18 years of age will follow the status of [Page 517] their husbands or parents
so far as the application of the foregoing provisions are
concerned.
When the father or, if the father is unknown, the mother, has not
acquired Italian nationality, the minor may claim that nationality
within the year following that in which he has reached the age of
18.
Article 6
Juridical persons existing in the territories transferred to Italy,
who have been recognised as such by the Italian Administrative
Authorities or by an Italian judicial decision, shall be considered
Italian.
Article 7
Separate Conventions between Italy and Austria shall provide for the
regulation of the interests of the inhabitants of the territories
transferred to Italy, especially as regards their civil rights,
their trade and the exercise of their professions, it being
understood that Austria undertakes at once to recognise and to
accept the rules laid down by the present Section concerning the
nationality of the persons inhabiting, or born in the said
territories, not to claim at any time or in any place whatever as
Austrian nationals those persons who shall have been declared
Italians by any right, to receive into its territory those persons
who remain Austrian and to conform, as regards the property of
Austrian nationals in the above said territories, to the provisions
of article 297 and of the annex to section IV, part 10, (Economic
Clauses) of the present treaty.
Those Austrian nationals who, without obtaining Italian nationality,
receive from the Italian Government permission to reside in the said
territories, shall not be subject to the provisions of the said
article.
[Enclosure 2]
Part III
section vii
Article 4
No inhabitants of the territories of the former Austro-Hungarian
Monarchy shall be disturbed or molested either on account of his
political attitude between August 1st, 1914, and the date of the
final recognition of sovereignty over those territories or on
account of the settlement of his nationality by virtue of the
present treaty.
[Page 518]
Appendix II to CF–73
WCP–1015
Wireless from
Budapest, despatched June
16th 1919, 12 noon.
Telegram From Bela Kun to M.
Clemenceau
(Translation from French)
M. Clemenceau,
President of the Peace Conference, Paris.
We acknowledge receipt of your telegram sent in the name of the
Allied and Associated Powers.6 The Government of
the Hungarian Republic of the Councils expresses once more its
satisfaction at the decision taken by the Allied and Associated
Powers to put an end to all needless hostilities. We declare
solemnly that our Government will help you with all its power to
translate this intention into fact. The Hungarian Republic of the
Councils, whose people has accomplished the greatest revolution in
its history without, so to speak, having shed (literally “spread”)
blood, has never been and never will be the cause of useless
bloodshed. The Hungarian Republic of the Councils was not
established for the purpose of making military conquests or
oppressing other nations; its object is to suppress all kinds of
oppression and exploitation. We are firmly convinced that it is not
the momentary events of military conquest but the great interests of
humanity—the common interests of the solidarity of the workers—which
will decide the frontiers of the new States, until the walls
separating the peoples fall. Having made our fate depend on the
fraternal solidarity of the workers of the whole world, nothing is
further from our mind than a wish to prolong the horrors of war;
every measure taken in the interest of Peace and of Justice will
find a sure support in the Hungarian Republic of Workers. The
Government of the Hungarian Republic of the Councils declares
without hesitation, frankly and openly that not only will it satisfy
but has already satisfied absolutely the demand of the Governments
of the Allied and Associated Powers to cease hostilities
immediately; it is not we who are the cause of the bloodshed which
was continuing (sic) but the troops of the
Czecho-Slovak Republic which, taking advantage of the fact that we
forthwith suspended operations of war at the bidding of the Allied
and Associated Powers, took the offensive; we were only able to
repel that offensive by counter offensives the object of which was
to render it impossible for them to continue their advance. In order
to prove that we were not responsible for the bloodshed, we need
only recall the fact that in the zone occupied by the Roumanians we
have made no advance whatever nor even any attempts in this
direction, the [Page 519] Roumanian
army not having resumed its attacks against us. Nevertheless we must
affirm that in view of the present Czecho-Slovak situation, the
possibility of giving orders and carrying them out, the recall of
our troops and the evacuation of the territories mentioned cannot be
carried out within the period fixed by your telegram. We are still
less able to do so in as much as we only received the telegram on
June 15th at noon, although it was marked “Very urgent”. In order to
carry out the recall of the troops and the evacuation of the
territories without bloodshed, both on our part and on that of the
Roumanians, we have to-day requested the Governments, that is to say
the Commanders-in-Chief of the Czechoslovak Republic and of the
Kingdom of Roumania to send to our Headquarters, or to a place to be
designated, military Delegates furnished with full powers who will
be instructed to settle in agreement with our Chief Command the
methods of evacuation. Nevertheless, we are bound to observe with
regret that the Allied and Associated Governments have not yet given
us the opportunity to let them know directly the vital desires of
the Republic of the Councils in both political and economic matters,
and that they have only partially let us know even the frontiers. We
now observe that these frontiers, contrary to the declaration of the
Allied and Associated Governments to the effect that military
conquests could not serve as a basis for the frontiers of the new
States, seem to us to be frontiers drawn solely with a view to the
right of the strongest. Within these frontiers it is absolutely
impossible to create a normal economic existence and productivity,
since it is impossible, in view of the present economic situation of
the world and of the international traffic to ensure the mere
subsistence of the population living in the delimited territories.
We await the occasion to demonstrate before the Peace Conference,
with the support of full proof, the truth of this assertion. At the
same time we call your attention to our demand contained in our last
message to summon together the Governments of the Peoples of the
former Monarchy to a Conference where they will be able to discuss
the liquidation of the former Monarchy as parties equally
interested. We do not accept the principle of territorial integrity,
we leave on one side the fact that territories inhabited exclusively
by Magyars are to be robbed from our Republic of the Councils as a
consequence of the drawing of the frontiers: we only ask to
emphasize one point, namely that under such conditions even a system
of Government with foundations as solid as ours could not possibly
prevent the struggle for existence degenerating within these
frontiers into a war of every man against every man. We declare once
more that not only have we stopped all aggressive operations on our
side but also have taken the necessary [Page 520] measures to order our troops to act in
accordance with your bidding and to make the technical preparations
for that purpose; and we beg you to be so good as to take the
necessary action with the Governments of the Czecho-Slovak Republic
and of the Kingdom of Roumania so that they may accede to the
demands we have addressed to them in this sense; we beg you to
instruct the above mentioned Governments to come into direct
communication with us for the purpose of carrying out your orders
and in particular to stop on their side also all needless bloodshed
and all aggression, which only serve to prolong the horrors of
war.
Bela Kun
Commissary for Foreign Affairs of the Hungarian
Republic of the Councils
